There will always be the person who comes up to me at a wedding, an event or just a photo shoot and ask me, what kind of camera I have.
I completely understand this question. It’s mostly an opportunity to start a conversation, and that is what I try to do with it. After all, I do love talking photography! To me though, a camera is just a tool to create art. And yes, while it can matter what kind of camera one owns and there are a lot of people who are extremely brand loyal, some of my favorite examples of great photos come from photographers who have used point-and-shoot cameras or iPhone cameras to win awards for the images they have taken. It’s all about the creator not the tool, I think.
So in this vein, I also get the question, “which camera should I buy?”
I’m always excited that other people are interested in photography. It’s an awesome adventure! I’m also pretty stoked that someone thinks that I’m the kind of person who knows enough to be asked! I am in love with photography, and I want the whole world to be in love with it too.
Let me start by saying that I want you to know that it is always, always the photographer who takes the photos – not the camera! A camera is a tool to create art, just like a paintbrush or a pencil. I can assure you that it takes years of work and practice to master, as with any other method of expression. For me, it has been a vastly rewarding journey and I’m still continually learning, some 18 years after I first picked up a camera! I think that buying a camera is a really personal thing, and it is dependent upon so many factors:
- Your skill level
- The way you use your camera
- What you want to shoot
- What you want to do with the images after you shoot them
I once had an instructor who gave me the following piece of advice, which is one of the best I have ever received with regards to camera gear: “only ever buy a piece of camera equipment (a new body, a lens, lighting equipment etc) when you have the NEED for it, and when you know EXACTLY why you need it and how you will use it.”
I own a Canon 7D body, and a number of lenses that I have purchased along the way. The ones I use the most are: a Canon 50mm f1.4 (my favorite), a Canon 15mm-85mm f3.5. I like the 7D because it allows me to be flexible in low-lighting situations without having to use a tripod, and is nearly a full-frame camera (but not quite). The range of color clarity and the multiple focusing points were very important to me too (among other things that I won’t bog you down with technical details). The range of lenses I use varies dependent upon the type of work I am doing, my location and the subject matter I am shooting. I will say that the biggest investment a photographer should make is in GOOD quality lenses. I have my eye on a different full-frame body, and better lenses, but for me, there needs to be a balance with the budget, so I’m saving up! I recommend that you do a lot of research and consider your own needs and style. Rent a couple of the cameras and/or lenses you are looking at (if you are able) as it is a big investment and it needs to be a good fit for YOU! I would love to make a solid recommendation of just one camera, but I think it’s so important that you take into consideration your own needs and goals.
Ah ha! See… I tricked you into thinking I would give you a specific answer. Sorry about that one.
Seriously though, I’d love to talk cameras with you anytime.
Angie Griffith Photography 